Sarasota begins Cattlemen extension

SARASOTA COUNTY — What once was deemed a simple borrow pit for the construction of Interstate 75 soon will be a world-class 2,000-meter rowing course.

Just before student athletes hit the water for the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association State Championship April 30 at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota and Manatee officials broke ground on the extension of Cattlemen Road north to University Parkway. As part of the project, construction crews will lengthen the park’s lake by about 500 meters, making it suitable for international rowing competition.

“This is a win for the entire area,” Sarasota County Commission Chairman Nora Patterson said. “Soon, we will see people not (just from) all over the country here (at the park) but from all over the world.”

Sarasota County is using $14 million in federal stimulus dollars to fund most of the $20 million project.

“This road has been on the Sarasota books for ages as an important part of the transportation grid,” Patterson said. “We were able to (get) $14 million of federal stimulus (money) with the cooperation of Manatee County. We waded through a maze of federal regulations to make this project qualify for federal funding. Our staff did an incredible job and now the road will be completed in 18 months.”

Commissioners will award a contract for construction of the project later this month and expect construction to commence in the fall. Florida Power & Light already is working to relocate lines on the property.

“You have neighborhood groups actually here supporting, helping to build the park and road, and rather than having two counties competing, you have a supermajority of county commissioners here to support a project,” Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton said.

The first two phases of park construction include the reconfiguration of the lake as well as the construction of park amenities such as four “adventure” parks, kayak and canoe launches, trails and more.

The project’s final phase will include a grand boathouse and FISA towers, which will be paid for by the private sector through sponsorships (naming rights) and other opportunities.

SHOW OF SUPPORT
Olympic rower Jason Read attended the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is the best facility and the best backbone of support I’ve ever seen,” said Read, who has competed in 14 countries and dozens of rowing venues.


Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].